After 8 rounds, Fabiano has 7 points and in clear first.
Trailing him by 1/2 point are:
2 GM Kasimdzhanov, Rustam 6.5 UZB 2683
3 GM Tiviakov, Sergei 6.5 NED 2648
4 GM Peralta, Fernando 6.5 ARG 2546
5 IM Appel, Ralf 6.5 GER 2512
6 WGM Sebag, Marie 6.5 FRA 2491
7 IM Delemarre, Jop 6.5 NED 2457
8 IM Grooten, Herman 6.5 NED 2370
9 FM De Jong, Migchiel 6.5 NED 2286
Both IM Appel and WGM Sebag are performing way over 2600 and they face each other in the last round. A draw would give both GM norms and Sebag will also cross the 2500 mark.
IM Delemarre is performing at 2650 but he has to face Tiviakov in the final round.
Fabiano will face the top seed GM Kasimdzhanov in the final round. It looks like Fabiano will cross the 2600 mark shortly.
Here is the official website: http://www.hztoernooi.nl/index_en.html
Go Fabiano!
Hi Susan,
First of all congrats on your recent victory. I know US chess is in the best possible hands. I was wondering with the upcoming world championship tournament what are the players going through right now in preparation. How would you prepare for a match or a world championship tournament.How about opening prep would you go in for main lines or try to deviate to nullify novelties. Like I have noticed that allot of games decided in the Karpov Kasparov matches were decided with novelties. Like Qc4 in the Ruy lopez game 16 i think or the b3 g3 idea in the scotch. Without those two wins then the result could be different.
A draw would give both GM norms
well I hope they take a quick draw. To win and deny the other is not sportsmanship to me.
Agreed draws before the game starts should be allowed. They should be allowed to go to the tournament director and tell them they agree a draw and get their GM norm.
Otherwise they need to change the laws of chess to not allow draws at all.
Fabiano won the tournament!